Moderate to brisk polling in Bihar 4th phase election

Patna : Moderate to brisk voting has been reported from many booths in first two hours on Monday as over 10 million electorate are eligible to cast their ballots in Bihar’s 4th phase elections for 42 Assembly constituencies and by-poll for a Lok Sabha seat.

The election officials said more than 15 per cent voting has been reported in first two hours from the majority of the constituencies.

Altogether 568 candidates, including 58 women, are contesting in the polling being held in eight districts.

By-election is also being held for the Banka Lok Sabha seat simultaneously, where independent aspirant Putul Singh, widow of former Union Minister Digvijay Singh, is fighting the poll backed by both Congress and National Democratic Alliance (NDA). She is pitted against ex-Central Minister Jayprakash Narayan Yadav of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

The by-poll has been necessitated after death of sitting MP Digvijay Singh.

Director General of Police Neelmani said barring some stray incidents the polling had been peaceful so far as the multi-tier security arrangements with Special Task Force have been made.

Borders with Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have been sealed and ground and air surveillance was intensified to prevent disturbances during the poll, he said.

While Janata Dal-United is fighting for 25 seats, its ally Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is in fray in the remaining 17.

Main Opposition Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD) has fielded 26 candidates and its electoral partner Lokshakti Janata Party (LJP) is fighting in 16.

Prominent contestants include BJP’s ministers Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Bhagalpur), Nand Kishore Yadav (Patna Sahib), Ramnarayan Mandal (Banka), besides JD(U) minister Damodar Raut.

IAS officer Afzal Amanullah’s wife Parveen Amanullah is also contesting on a JD(U) ticket from Sahebpur Kamal while LJP president Ramvilas Paswan’s brother and state party president Pashupati Kumar Paras is seeking fate from Alauli.

Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly and RJD nominee Shakuni Choudhary is fighting from Tarapur.